THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO

UGC 211: American Pluralism

Prof. N. Grant

645-2575 x1127

543 Clemens Hall

Off. Hrs.: Tu, 11:30-1:30 ngrant@buffalo.edu

Website: http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~ngrant/

Events of the recent past now appear to challenge the fact that we have always lived in a pluralistic society, a nation composed of many nations. One of the important issues to be examined in this class is that of how we can continue to value our diverse society when our energies are invested elsewhere. Has the American experiment worked? Does it work now for you? How do you experience it? If it works for some groups and not for others, is that useful—even for the groups who enjoy the advantage? Is discrimination dead, or only sleeping? What should America look like while you’re here, and what should it look like to those who will come after you?

Texts (to be found in the University Bookstore):

A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn

Rereading America, 6^th ed., Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, Bonnie Lisle (referred to as “Colombo”)

Schedule of Readings

(+) = online reading selection

(*) = quiz day

Jan. 16 Introductory

Native Americans

18 Images of the Old West: Scenes from Deadwood

23 Zinn, “Columbus, Indians, and Human Progress,” 1

25 Colombo, “Assimilation,” Sherman Alexie, 674

30 “Where I Come From Is Like This,” Paula Gunn Allen, 443

The American Dream

Feb. 1 “Horatio Alger,” Harlon L. Dalton, 303; Alger’s “Ragged Dick,” 297

6 “Class in America: Myths & Realities,” Gregory Mantsios, 331

13 “Stephen Cruz,” Studs Terkel, 348

Women & Society

15 (*) Zinn, “The Intimately Oppressed,” ch. 6; Colombo, Jean Kilbourne, “Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt,” 455

20 “Becoming Members of Society,” Aaron H. Devor, 414; “From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos,” Joan Morgan, 527

22 Class presentation, “Media-generated Images of Women”

Asian Americans

27 Columbo, Eric Liu, “Notes of a Native Speaker,” 660

Mar. 6 “Race at the End of History,” Ronald Takaki, 383

8 Zinn, pp. 421-24 and “The Impossible Victory: Vietnam,” ch. 18

Gays & Lesbians

[Spring Recess]

20 (* ) (+) from In These Times, “In Defense of Identity Politics,” Martin Duberman

27 Columbo, “The Bridge Builder,” Eric Marcus, 49

29 Video segment: “The Boy Scouts” from 60 Minutes

Moslem Culture in the US

Apr. 3 (+) “TV Arabs,” Jack G. Shaheen; Colombo, Dinesh D’Souza, “America the Beautiful…,” 716

5 (+) “Smells Like Racism,” Rita Chaudhry Sethi; Columbo, Joel Andreas, “The War on Terrorism,” 241

Latino/a Culture

10 (*) Zinn, pp. 408, 615-16; Colombo, “The Achievement of Desire,” Richard Rodriguez, 214

12 “The Story of My Body,” Judith Ortiz Cofer, 433

[Class cancelled April 17-19]

African Americans

24 Zinn, “Slavery without Submission,” ch. 9; Columbo, Malcolm X, “Learning to Read”, 243

26 (*) 3 Ken Hamblin, “The Black Avenger,” 384; Video, “Texas Justice,” 60 Minutes

Project Due Tuesday, May 8

Course Requirements

Attendance and punctuality are important. More than six unexcused absences = 50% reduction of final grade

Grade Weights:

4 quizzes = 40% of final grade

Class Participation = 25%

Final Project (4-6 pages)= 35%

Final Project: Interview a person from an ethnic background or a religious, economic or sexual orientation not your own. Ask any questions you like, but try to get at the issue of difference, e.g., how does your interviewee see h/er difference; what is necessary for h/er difference to be understood and appreciated; what kind(s) of national discourse should begin in order to end whatever discrimination they feel. You may choose a classmate, but avoid relatives. You should strive to find the greatest degree of difference you can; e.g., Catholics should not interview Episcopalians, Koreans should avoid interviewing Chinese, etc.

N.B. For each day the final project is late, there will be a reduction of ¼ the final grade, e.g., an otherwise A grade becomes A- if the paper is handed in on 12/14, B+ if handed in on 12/15, and so forth.